'L' train makes 14th stop as Texans bow to Titans

Titans cornerback Jason McCourty breaks up a second-half pass intended for Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) on Sunday. With 49 yards receiving, Johnson fell 93 short of becoming the first NFL player with four seasons of 100 catches and 1,500 yards.

Titans cornerback Jason McCourty breaks up a second-half pass...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Texans' new coach, presumably Penn State's Bill O'Brien, is on the way. And with a new coach comes a lot of change.

And a lot of change is necessary for a team that finished with an NFL-worst 2-14 record after losing 16-10 to Tennessee on Sunday.

The Texans started their last game like they wanted to blow the top pick in the draft, scoring a touchdown on their first series and leading 7-0. Slowly but surely, they fell behind and secured the first pick.

Owner Bob McNair has to hire Gary Kubiak's replacement. He says interviews aren't over, but we know he wants to wrap up the process as soon as possible because Black Monday is here, and there's more competition for candidates like O'Brien, Lovie Smith and Ken Whisenhunt.

"Something new and fresh is what everyone needs to get this bad taste out of our mouths," center Chris Myers said after Sunday's game at LP Field. "We can turn this thing around."

The thing is the Texans lost 14 consecutive games. They're the first team in history to start 2-0 and finish 2-14. Sunday was their ninth defeat by seven or fewer points.

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"I'm glad what we went through is over," said receiver Andre Johnson, who caught six passes in the last game of his 11th season. "I wouldn't wish a season like this on anybody.

"Words can't describe what this season was like. You never want to experience it again. There's nothing fun about it, but we made our bed, and now we have to lie in it."

And it's a bed of thorns, not roses. The new coach, who could be hired this week, will take over a team that tied the 1993-94 Oilers for taking the most prolific one-season plunge in league history - 12-4 to 2-14.

Regrettable ratio

As the late University of Texas coach Darrell Royal once said, a new coach never inherits a warm bed. The Texans' new boss will get a team that finished minus-20 in turnover ratio - a 32-turnover swing from the 2012 season in which the Texans were plus-12.

As tight end Owen Daniels, who's on injured reserve, pointed out after Sunday's game, what happened against the Titans was a microcosm of what happened during the most disappointing season in franchise history.

"I'm glad we can put it behind us," outside linebacker Brooks Reed said. "I look forward to what the offseason brings. The changes will instill hope that we can turn the team around. It's going to be interesting."

Once McNair makes it official, the new coach will hire his staff and install its systems on offense and defense. And watch a lot of tape of a season that had an exciting start and a merciful end.

The only good thing to result from being so bad is getting the first pick in each round of the draft. The most important priority for general manager Rick Smith and his new coach will be finding a quarterback in the draft, probably in the first round but no later than the second.

"I don't know what they'll do, because it's not my job, and it's something I don't control," Johnson said. "I don't know if they'll draft a quarterback or sign a veteran, but you hope when they bring in the new coach, he can develop a young quarterback if that's the route they choose to take."

There's only one route for the Texans to take under their new coach.

"Any time you finish 2-14, there's only one way to go," offensive tackle Duane Brown said. "I'm glad this season is over so we can regroup.

Get the eraser

"You never know about change. It can be good or bad. Change means there's going to be so much uncertainty."

But Brown is certain of one thing.

"It's been a nightmare all season long," he said. "And I want to erase this season from my memory."